The apex rounds for the 2024 edition NHRA Winternationals are rescheduled….
Some untimely inclement weather has forced the postponement of the final rounds of the 64th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
The final rounds in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock will now be completed at the upcoming NHRA Arizona Nationals, which is the next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series circuit and takes place April 5-7 at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix.
Eliminations within NHRA’s Lucas Oil Sportsman racing divisions were also affected and a strategy for completing that racing program is also being devised — with current exceptions that plan will be revealed soon and likely occur one week after the Arizona Nationals during the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at Las Vegas (April 12-14th).
The Lucas Oil NHRA Winternationals had also endured weather issues during the Satuday schedule — which limited the qualifying schedule overall and set both the Professional and Top Alcohol fields based on only two qualifiers.
In Top Fuel, Tony Schumacher and defending event winner Justin Ashley both advanced to the final round on Sunday. Schumacher reached his first final round this season after defeating Terry Totten, Gainesville winner Shawn Langdon and Billy Torrence. Ashley, meanwhile, is after his third straight win at the Winternationals and reached the finals thanks to victories against Shawn Reed, Steve Torrence and No. 1 qualifier Brittany Force. Ashley has reached the final round at the Winternationals for four straight years.
Justin Ashley remains in the running and will chase a 3rd straight Winternationals event Top Fuel win.
Funny Car’s John Force and reigning world champion Matt Hagan powered to the championship round at the second of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Force will try to pick up his first victory in two years in Phoenix, taking down Jim Campbell, Bobby Bode and Ron Capps. Hagan is after back-to-back Winternationals victories and his 50th career Funny Car win, reaching the finals on Sunday in Pomona with round victories against Buddy Hull, Jeff Diehl and Gainesville winner J.R. Todd.
Living legend John Force has advanced to the fuel FC final round for the Winternationals.
Defending world champion Erica Enders and No. 1 qualifier Dallas Glenn will meet up in the finals in Pro Stock in Phoenix. Enders, who won the season-opener in Gainesville, took down Fernando Cuadra Jr., Brandon Foster and Greg Anderson to reach the championship round. She will attempt to pick up her 50th career national event win in two weeks at Firebird Motorsports Park. Glenn, the defending Winternationals winner, got by Sienna Wildgust, David Cuadra and Mason McGaha to reach his first final round of the season.
Defending and now 6X NHRA World Champion Erica Enders will go for a milestone 50th career win in the Pro Stock final.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action April 5-7 with the 39th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix.
Posted with files by NHRA Communications and Bruce Biegler
Photos by David Ostaszewski
